Casual Keystrokes - a work at home mom sharing ideas, tips and resources for keeping the balance

M&M’s Meet the Addams Family

2011-10-03T12:15:58Z

Just in time for Halloween, the M&M’s are appealing to our childhood memories and teaming up with the Addams Family. Check out the kooky commercial. Then go have some fun making your own M&M character!

Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week

2011-04-18T22:33:32Z

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 is Teacher Appreciation Day, but many schools now make a week of it.

Each day of the week has a theme.

Monday you are supposed to send in a piece of fruit to the teacher to give her a healthy start to her week.

Tuesday the kids write notes to their teachers to let them know how loved they are.

Wednesday is for flowers. Children are encouraged to be creative – bring a flower, color a flower, make one out of tissue paper – whatever they like.

Thursday the students are asked to bring their best manners and best behavior. To me, that would be the ultimate gesture of appreciation.

Friday is treat day. The students are encouraged to bring or make a small treat for their teacher. This year I think I will get each teacher a gift card to Starbucks or Panera Bread.

On Thursday the PTA will have a luncheon for the teachers. I will take in my favorite meatball recipe (5lbs meatballs, Heinz chili sauce and grape jelly in the crock pot – it is soooo yummy) and other parents will bring in their favorites, too.

Does your school celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day or Week? How do they tell the teachers that they are truly appreciated?

Discount School Supply is running a special for Teacher Appreciation Week – 10% off all purchases! They also carry the biggest selection of allergen-free and special needs art, craft and school supplies I have seen anywhere!

Old Glory on Hilton Head

2010-09-05T11:53:25Z

Happy Labor Day!

We took this photo this summer while we were at Hilton Head, SC. I just love the look of the weathered flag flying free over the water and we couldn’t have asked the bird to do a better job posing for us.

The Best Back to School Commercial Ever

2010-08-22T15:43:07Z

This Staples commercial from a few years back is THE. BEST. EVER! With school starting in just over a week for my kids, I just can’t get the tune out of my head – and that is a good thing.

And some of my best back to school advice:

5 Back to School Sanity Savers
My Back to School Checklist
21 Healthy Lunchbox and Snack Ideas
Create a Go-To Resource Book (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4 and Step 5)

SnOMG

2009-12-20T21:37:08Z

We had 19″ of snow fall within the last 48 hours – can you say snOMG??? Anyone care to join me on the patio for a tall fruity drink?

The Shelter Pets Project

2009-11-05T13:26:26Z

In an effort to dispel the negative connotation associated with adopting pets from an animal shelter, the Shelter Pet Project has released a series of videos. I particularly love the little dog in this video:

He has a great sense of humor! Check out the Shelter Pet Project web site for more resources, more talking animals, and to find the location of a shelter near you.

Pink for October 2009

2009-10-02T16:14:16Z

It’s October and that means it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. As I have done in years past, I have brought back one of my favorite versions of the Casual Keystrokes theme design – the super pink Pink for October version!

Get more information on the Pink for October awareness campaign and check out some of my favorite Pink for October designs at Essential Keystrokes.

Wordless Wednesday – Marina Towers Chicago

2009-05-06T19:28:53Z

We were in Chicago this past weekend for a conference, SOBCon to be exact and I was totally fascinated by these two corn cob looking structures, also known as Marina Towers, that remind me of somewhere the Jetsons might live!

Try Before You Buy Video Games with GameFly

2009-04-30T03:03:26Z

My son recently traded in his PS2 and all its games in order to get an Xbox instead. While looking through his stack of PS2 games I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the games were bought but not really played. I know he had his favorites but there were definitely some that maybe got 2-3 plays.

I wish I would have registered for GameFly™ sooner. Imagine the money I could have saved. It allows you to basically rent video games and have them delivered to your house. The kids can play them as long as they want and if they really love it, you can buy it or return it and pick a new title.

Rarely do my kids play more than two games at a time anyhow. Not only does using GameFly save me money by purchasing games that don’t really live up to the kids expectations, it also means I don’t have to store all of these games either! That is a huge selling point as far as I am considered.

Fun and Funky Easter Basket Fillers

2009-03-29T04:20:29Z

What does the Easter Bunny put in your kids Easter baskets? Here it is usually some basic Easter candy, an outfit or jammies for spring, and a few goofy toys. As I have been doing some research (to help the Easter Bunny out, you know) I have come across some pretty cute ideas.

These are some serious Bunny Slippers with attitude!!

How about a Giant PEZ White Easter Bunny that weighs almost 2 Pounds? It plays music and holds a whole bunch of PEZ. You can get it in additional designs – like a bunny, Hello Kitty and Star Wars Clone Trooper.

Bunny Paratroopers are sure to make even the big boys laugh. They will have fun launching the Easter Bunny from all heights and watching him parachute to the ground.

Author David A Carter gets into the season with Easter Bugs : A Springtime Pop-up.

Need a blast from your own childhood? Try a 1970′s Easter Retro Candy Gift Box – other decades are available, too!

Who would have thought you could enjoy those cute little Peeps without having to actually eat the marshmallow cuties? Enter Peeps Lip Balm – Vanilla Marshmallow Cream (yes, it comes in other flavors, too)

INeed traditional cute and cuddly? Check out the cutest Easter plush and stuffed animals at Doll Diaries and for absolutely free Easter printables visit Printables4Kids.com.

Hoppy Easter!